Page 1795 - Politics

BJD, Cong have failed to ensure development in Odisha: Amit Shah

BJP president Amit Shah Tuesday alleged that the Congress and the BJD had failed to ensure Odisha's development and dubbed them two sides of the same coin. Shah's remarks came after Congress president Rahul Gandhi during a rally in Bhubaneswar last week accused Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of being remote-controlled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in regard to a chit fund scam. Promising a 'new Odisha' if the BJP is voted to power, he said: "You have given 19 years to the BJD and several years to the Congress. Just give five years to Narendra Modi who will make Odisha the number one state in the country." The BJP chief's visit follows three back-to-back tours of Prime Minister Modi to Odisha since December and is significant as the state assembly elections are likely to be held along with the Lok Sabha polls. Addressing a BJP workers rally here, Shah called upon the state's people to dislodge the 19-year-old Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government in 2019 and alleged that

SP-BSP alliance incongruous: Shivpal Yadav

Terming SP-BSP alliance incongruous, Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) chief Shivpal Yadav Tuesday said that BSP supremo Maywati never respected socialists and inflicted atrocities on them. "The SP-BSP alliance is 'bemel' (incongruous). The BSP supremo never respected socialists and committed atrocities against them. The decision to form this alliance was taken in self-interest and people will not accept it," Yadav said. He was addressing party workers at the first state executive meeting of the PSPL here. "Those who are proud of the alliance will soon see their dream shattering," he said without taking names. Praising his party workers, Yadav said that in about three months his party has become a force in the state and the party organisation is ready for the Lok Sabha polls. "We have a lot of challenges. We are being attacked by others but there is no need to fear," he said, adding that at a time when political parties should stand united against the Narenda Modi government, they .

Noor compares Mamata with Ghani Khan, asks kin to join TMC

Congress MP Mausam Benazir Noor who joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday, said only West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is able to fight the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state. The second-term Congress MP also asked his maternal uncle Abu Hasem Khan Chowdhury and his son Isha Khan Chowdhury, MP and MLA of the Congress respectively, to switch over to the ruling party like her. However, these two Congress leaders later said they would not leave the party. Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Noor compared Mamata Banerjee, also Trinamool Congress to the late Congress stalwart and former Union minister ABA Ghani Khan Chowdhury, another maternal uncle of hers. "Barkat saheb (Ghani Khan Chowdhury) had worked for the development of Malda. He believed in secularism. Didi (Mamata Banerjee) too has these qualities," the MP from Malda North constituency said. Noor said, "If we want development of Malda, we have to strengthen Didi's hand. Only she is able .

Alliance talks with Cong-NCP at a standstill: BBM's Ambedkar

Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) leader Prakash Ambedkar Tuesday said talks with the Congress and NCP for a grand alliance in Maharashtra for the Lok Sabha polls have come to a "standstill". Congress leaders including state unit chief Ashok Chavan and Manikrao Thakre and NCP's Chhagan Bhujbal met Ambedkar for alliance talks earlier in the day. "I had demanded an action plan on how to curb the parallel administration being run in the government by the RSS. The Congress-NCP leaders told me they will discuss the issue with their (respective) central leadership. They haven't responded on this issue yet," Ambedkar told PTI. "Talks (for an alliance) haven't failed. They are at a standstill," he informed. "I told them discussion on the number of seats will happen only after their response regarding how to curb the RSS' parallel administration," he said. Ambedkar added, "I have already demanded 12 Lok Sabha seats (in the alliance).

Cong holds meeting in Goa to chalk out manifesto for LS polls

The Congress party Tuesday held a meeting with the members of the party, farmers, academicians and social activists in Goa to prepare its manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The party received suggestions that its manifesto should assure to find solutions to the mining crisis in the state and threat to environment due to the amendment to the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification. Rajya Sabha MP and senior Congress leader Rajeev Gowda, who is the convener of the party's manifesto committee, held the meeting to take inputs for drafting the national manifesto. "Our party president Rahul Gandhi has formed a manifesto committee. We have conducted one hundred such consultations. We have fanned out across the country to ensure that voices are taken into account everywhere," Gowda told reporters after the meeting. During the exercise, 26 speakers expressed their views. Besides that, 86 individual suggestions were submitted. "We had said that the Congress is open for

Shah questions chit fund owners buying Mamata's paintings

BJP president Amit Shah launched a scathing attack against the TMC government in West Bengal on Tuesday and alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's paintings were brought by chit fund owners for crores of rupees. Vowing to uproot the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal, he said if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formed the next government in the state, it would ensure that each and every defrauded investor in chit funds got back their money. The TMC was quick to react. The Banerjee-led party dismissed Shah's charges as "baseless" and alleged that the "BJP is trying to malign our party". Making pointed attacks, Shah said, "Are you all aware of Mamata Banerjee's qualities? She is a very good painter. Even if someone is a great painter, how much would his paintings cost? (Rs) 10,000, (Rs) 20,000, (Rs) one lakh or (Rs) 10 lakh. But her paintings were brought by chit fund owners for crores of rupees." "So, will the chit fund owners ever be arrested if the person, ...

Shah to address convention of BJP's booth-level chiefs in Uttar Pradesh

BJP president Amit Shah will address a convention of the party's booth-level presidents in Kanpur-Bundelkhand and Avadh regions of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. After addressing the party's booth-level chiefs at the Railway grounds, Niralanagar in Kanpur, he will arrive in the state capital and speak at a similar event for the Avadh region at the Kanshi Ram Smriti Upvan, Aashiana, state vice president J P S Rathore said. Among the others who will address the convention include Union minister and BJP's Lok Sabha election in-charge for the state J P Nadda, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Dinesh Sharma and the party's state unit president Mahendra Nath Pandey, UP BJP spokesperson Hero Bajpai said. Shah's meeting with the booth-level presidents assumes significance as it comes after the SP and BSP forged an alliance for the general elections in Uttar Pradesh and the Congress' Priyanka Gandhi taking a political plunge in the

Myanmar parliament approves step toward charter change

Myanmar's parliament has voted to create a committee to propose amendments to the country's military-enacted constitution, which grants the armed forces the power to block any change. The proposal Tuesday to form the committee was presented by a member of the ruling National League for Democracy party of leader Aung San Suu Kyi, which took power in 2016 after more than five decades of military or military-backed rule. The 2008 constitution gives the military control of national security ministries and 25 per cent of legislative seats, enough to prevent any constitutional changes, which require the support of more than 75 per cent of lawmakers. The committee proposal required a simple majority to pass. Military lawmakers boycotted the vote, saying it violated parliamentary procedures for changing the constitution.

Khattar govt will fall once Jind bypoll results are out: Cong leader

Haryana Congress president Ashok Tanwar Tuesday claimed that his party's candidate will be elected as the next MLA from Jind and defeat will trigger exodus of BJP legislators following which the Manohar Lal Khattar government in the state will fall. "Randeep Singh Surjewala will win the Jind bypoll with a handsome margin. Once the results are out on Thursday, a loss will trigger exodus of the ruling BJP MLAs because already resentment is brewing among several legislators and they themselves will bring down this anti-people regime," he claimed. The BJP government in Haryana has 47 MLAs in the 90-member House. Replying to a question, the former Sirsa MP said, "Some legislators of the BJP are also in touch with us." Tanwar said during his canvassing in the run up to the Jind bypolls, he found that there was "strong resentment among the public against the Khattar government". "There is a tsunami brewing up against this government. When the Congress gave a strong candidate in Surjewala, ...

TMC, BJP workers clash after Amit Shah's rally in Bengal's Kanthi

A TMC party office was ransacked and vehicles ferrying BJP workers were set on fire in clashes that broke out following a rally by BJP chief Amit Shah at Kanthi in East Midnapore district of West Bengal on Tuesday, the parties claimed. Sources in the two parties said three persons were injured in the clashes. No confirmation was available from the police. The BJP alleged that buses in which party workers were returning from Shah's rally were ransacked and set on fire allegedly by TMC activists. The Trinamool Congress on the other hand claimed that BJP workers had attacked a local TMC party office in Kanthi and vandalised it. Irked TMC supporters then retaliated and clashes broke out, they said. "When our supporters were returning from Amit Shah's rally they were attacked by TMC activists. This is a shame. We condemn it," BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said. Senior TMC leader Suvendu Adhikari claimed that the BJP is trying to disturb peace and stability in the district. "BJP workers ..

HP CM, guv express grief over George Fernandes' demise

Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur expressed grief over the death of former defence minister George Fernandes on Tuesday. In his condolence message, the governor said Fernandes was not only an exceptional trade union leader but also an upstanding journalist and politician. "He was one of the leaders who raised their voice against the Emergency. His valuable, frank and farsighted contributions to our country will always be remembered," Devvrat said. The chief minister said Fernandes was one of the most effective voices for the rights of the poor and marginalised. His contribution for the defence of the country between 1998-2004 will always be remembered, "especially for his bold decisions towards strengthening the forces", the chief minister said. Thakur prayed for peace for the departed soul.

PM provided 'minimum income guarantee' to his 15 friends;Rahul

A day after announcing his party would ensure "minimum income guarantee" for the poor if Congress was voted to power at the Centre, party chief Rahul Gandhi Tuesday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he has provided 'maximum income guarantee' to 15 of his friends. "For the last five years, he has provided a maximum income guarantee to 15 of his friends. We have decided that if Narendra Modi can give maximum income guarantee to 15 rich people, we will give minimum income guarantee to every single citizen," Gandhi said. Like MGNREGA committed right to work, like RTI committed right to information, like Food Security Bill guarantees the right to food, the Congress government is going to guarantee a minimum income to every poor Indian citizen, he told a booth-level party workers meeting here. Attacking the policies of the Modi government,he alleged that the prime minister had done nothing for the farmers and assured that a congress government would ensure ...

Israeli PM Netanyahu likely to visit India before elections

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be visiting India in February or March, before elections in both the countries, in what would be his second visit to New Delhi coming after just over a year. "A date is being worked out but no confirmed dates are available as yet. Both the sides have exchanged their preferred dates but there is no final decision on it. The visit, however, is likely sometime in February or March," informed sources here told PTI. Netanyahu visited India in January 2018 while Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Tel Aviv in 2017, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to tour the Jewish state. Both the leaders spoke over the phone earlier this month when Israel's National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbath visited New Delhi. Ben-Shabbat also met National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. The Israeli prime minister is said to have expressed his desire to visit India again to which Modi is said to have consented, sources said. Netanyahu has taken up many ...

Govt run by dynasty cannot serve people: Shah

BJP president Amit Shah mocked the appointment of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as a Congress general secretary on Tuesday and said a government run by a dynasty could not serve the people, but could only provide a "majboor" (helpless) government. The Congress had brought the "third G" into the fray after the "two Gs -- Sonia G and Rahul G" to indulge in more corruption, he told a public rally here in East Midnapore district of West Bengal. Referring to the 2G scam that dogged the Congress-led UPA-2 regime, Shah said the opposition party wanted to indulge in more corruption now with the induction of the "third G -- Priyanka G". "I am here to tell you that during the 10 years of the UPA rule under (then prime minister) Manmohan Singh, there were only two Gs -- Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. We had then witnessed the 2G scam of Rs 12 lakh crore. Now, if the third G joins the 2Gs, what will be the amount of the scam? "The Congress has made a long-term plan of indulging in corruption by joining ..

May will seek to reopen Brexit divorce deal

British Prime Minister Theresa May will seek "legal changes" to the Brexit deal she agreed with EU leaders only last month to try to secure the support of MPs, her spokesman said Tuesday. She will hold talks with unnamed officials or leaders from the bloc throughout Tuesday, he said, as the clock ticks down to Britain's exit from the European Union on March 29. Brussels has repeatedly said it will not reopen the withdrawal agreement that May herself negotiated over nearly two years, but the spokesman said it was clear it would never be accepted by the British parliament. "We have to have a deal which can carry the support of parliament and that's going to require some changes to the withdrawal agreement," he said. The House of Commons, which rejected May's deal by a huge margin earlier this month, will from 1900 GMT Tuesday vote on a series of amendments designed to show the prime minister exactly what they want. May's spokesman said she backed an amendment that called for the removal

Centre asks SC to allow return of non-disputed 67-acre land around disputed Ayodhya site to Hindu trust, other original owners

Facing growing pressure to move swiftly on the Ram temple issue, the Modi government Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to allow it to return the "non-disputed" surplus land acquired around the disputed structure in Ayodhya to a Hindu trust and other original owners, in a significant move ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. The move could see some form of construction of a Ram temple by Hindu groups if the handover is allowed, amid pressure from the RSS and Hindutva groups on the Centre to facilitate this step. In its 33-page application, the Centre sought modification of the apex court's 2003 order to permit it to to return 67.390 acres of "non-disputed" surplus/superflous land around the disputed Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid structure in Ayodhya to the original owners. The court had held that unless the dispute is resolved, status quo has to be maintained over surplus land. The application claimed that only 0.313 acre of land was disputed. The 0.313-acre land, on which the disputed structure

Maharashtra leaders mourn demise of George Fernandes

Maharashtra leaders cutting across political lines mourned the demise of veteran trade unionist and former Union Minister George Fernandes, here on Tuesday.

Fernandes gave paramount importance to well-being of the downtrodden: Manmohan

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday expressed profound sorrow over the demise of George Fernandes and said the country has lost a versatile personality who excelled as a mass leader and gave importance to the downtrodden. In a letter to the socialist leader's wife Leila Kabir Fernandes, Singh said he joins numerous admirers and well-wishers in mourning his death. "In his death our country has lost a versatile personality who with his unparalleled efficiency excelled as a mass leader and gave paramount importance to the well-being of the downtrodden people of our country," he said in his letter. "I take this opportunity to convey to you and other members of your family my heartfelt condolences on this bereavement. We pray to the Almighty to give all of you the strength to bear this great loss with courage and fortitude," he also said. Fernandes, who was railway minister in the V P Singh cabinet and defence minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, died here Tuesday at ..

Qureshi telephones Mirwaiz; discusses Kashmir issue

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Tuesday telephoned Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and discussed with him Islamabad's efforts to highlight the Kashmir issue. Though there was no immediate reaction from the Ministry of External Affairs but Qureshi's move may not go down well with India, which maintains that Kashmir is a bilateral issue and there is no space for any third party. The Foreign Office said Qureshi spoke with Mirwaiz and discussed with him the efforts of Pakistan's government to highlight the Kashmir issue. Qureshi also mentioned the June 2018 report issued by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and a report of the UK Parliament, the FO said in a statement. He also emphasised that India should permit the visit of the Commission of Inquiry, as envisaged in both reports.

Congress questions Centre's move on 'undisputed' Ayodhya land

Seeking to remind the Centre of the Supreme Courts 2003 directive about "observance of status quo", the Congress on Tuesday questioned the Modi governments move asking for the top courts nod for giving a part of the 67 acres of undisputed land to Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas and other original owners.